2015 -- H 5033

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS

     

     Introduced By: Representative John J. Lombardi

     Date Introduced: January 08, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 12-1.3-2 and 12-1.3-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-1.3

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entitled "Expungement of Criminal Records" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-1.3-2. Motion for expungement. -- (a) Any person who is a first offender may file a

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motion for the expungement of all records and records of conviction for a felony or misdemeanor

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by filing a motion in the court in which the conviction took place, provided that no person who

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has been convicted of a crime of violence shall have his or her records and records of conviction

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expunged.

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      (b) Subject to subsection (a) of this section, a person may file a motion for the

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expungement of records relating to a misdemeanor conviction after five (5) years from the date of

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the completion of his or her sentence.

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      (c) Subject to subsection (a) of this section, a person may file a motion for the

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expungement of records relating to a felony conviction after ten (10) years from the date of the

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completion of his or her sentence.

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     (d) Subject to § 12-19-19(c) and without regard to subsections (a) – (c) of this section, a

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person may file a motion for the expungement of records relating to a deferred sentence upon its

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completion, after which the court will hold a hearing on the motion.

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     12-1.3-3. Motion for expungement -- Notice -- Hearing -- Criteria for granting. -- (a)

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Any person filing a motion for expungement of the records of his or her conviction pursuant to

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section 12-1.3-2 shall give notice of the hearing date set by the court to the department of the

 

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attorney general and the police department which originally brought the charge against the person

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at least ten (10) days prior to that date.

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      (b) The court, after the hearing at which all relevant testimony and information shall be

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considered, may in its discretion order the expungement of the records of conviction of the person

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filing the motion if it finds:

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      (1)(i) That in the five (5) years preceding the filing of the motion, if the conviction was

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for a misdemeanor, or in the ten (10) years preceding the filing of the motion if the conviction

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was for a felony, the petitioner has not been convicted nor arrested for any felony or

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misdemeanor, there are no criminal proceedings pending against the person, and he or she has

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exhibited good moral character; or

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     (ii) That after a hearing held under the provisions of § 12-19-19(c), the court finds that

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the person has complied with all of the terms and conditions of the deferral agreement including,

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but not limited to, the payment in full of any court ordered fines, fees, costs, assessments and

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restitution to victims of crimes, there are no criminal proceedings pending against the person and

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he or she has established good moral character. Provided, that no person who has been convicted

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of a crime of violence shall have his or her records relating to a deferred sentence expunged.

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      (2) That the petitioner's rehabilitation has been attained to the court's satisfaction and the

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expungement of the records of his or her conviction is consistent with the public interest.

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      (c) If the court grants the motion, it shall, after payment by the petitioner of a one

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hundred dollar ($100) fee to be paid to the court order all records and records of conviction

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relating to the conviction expunged and all index and other references to it deleted. A copy of the

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order of the court shall be sent to any law enforcement agency and other agency known by either

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the petitioner, the department of the attorney general, or the court to have possession of the

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records. Compliance with the order shall be according to the terms specified by the court.

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     SECTION 2. Section 12-19-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-19 entitled "Sentence

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and Execution" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-19-19. Sentencing on plea of guilty or nolo contendere -- Deferment of sentence. -

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- (a) Whenever any person is arraigned before the superior court and pleads guilty or nolo

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contendere, he or she may be at any time sentenced by the court; provided, that if at any time the

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court formally defers sentencing then the person and the attorney general shall enter into a written

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deferral agreement to be filed with the clerk of the court. When a court formally defers sentence,

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the court may only impose sentence within five (5) years from and after the date of the written

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deferral agreement, unless during the five (5) year period, the person shall be declared to have

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violated the terms and conditions of the deferment pursuant to subsection (b) of this section in

 

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which event the court may impose sentence.

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      (b) It shall be an express condition of any deferment of sentence in accordance with this

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section that the person agreeing to said deferment of sentence shall at all times during the period

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of deferment keep the peace and be of good behavior. A violation of this express condition or any

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other condition set forth by either the court or the written deferral agreement shall violate the

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terms and conditions of the deferment of sentence and the court may impose sentence. The

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determination of whether a violation has occurred shall be made by the court in accordance with

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procedures relating to violation of probation sections 12-19-2 and 12-19-14.

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      (c) If a person, after the completion of the five (5) year deferment period is determined

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by the court after a hearing to have complied with all of the terms and conditions of the written

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deferral agreement including, but not limited to, the payment in full of any court ordered fines,

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fees, costs, assessments and restitution to victims of crime, then the person shall become

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immediately eligible for consideration for expungement pursuant to the provisions of §§ 12-1.3-2

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and 12-1.3-3. , then the person shall be exonerated of the charges for which sentence was deferred

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and records relating to the criminal complaint, information or indictment shall be sealed pursuant

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to the provision of section 12-1-12. Further, if any record of the criminal complaint, information

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or indictment has been entered into a docket or alphabetical index, whether in writing or

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electronic information storage or other data compilation system, all references to the identity of

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the person charged by the complaint shall be sealed.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage, the provisions shall be given

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retroactive and prospective effect, and it shall apply to all matters pending upon the effective date

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of this act including anyone who after a hearing is determined by the court to have complied with

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all of the terms and conditions of their deferred agreement.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS

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     This act would clarify that the provisions of § 12-19-19, permitting the expungment of

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records upon the successful completion of a deferred sentence, are to be applied both

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retroactively and prospectively. The act would also require that the court hold a hearing, before

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granting expungement, to determine whether the person has complied with all of the terms and

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conditions of the deferral agreement.

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This act would take effect upon passage, the provisions would be given retroactive and

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prospective effect, and it would apply to all matters pending upon the effective date of this act

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including anyone who after a hearing is determined by the court to have complied with all of the

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terms and conditions of their deferred agreement.

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